Pouring device



July 27, 1937. A, CAMEROTA 2,088,547

POURING DEVICE Filed July 20. 1935 I 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: Loans 21 Camamfia,

U] I'll WITNESSES:

Jul 27, 1937.

WITNESSES:

July 1937.

L. A. CAME TA 4 POURING DEVICE 6 sheetsis t 3 Filed July 20, 1935 I m m w e m. T m E m a m V 0 QN m H 6 I m QNWMWH L vb-WW. M

L. A. CAMEROTA POURING DEVICE Filed July 20, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: fl Lamaraia,

Louis July 27, 1937. CAMEROTA 2,088,547

POURING DEVICE INVEN TOR: Loans fi. Camzmiag m @I z r ORNYEYS.

July 27, 1937. A. CAMEROTA POURING DEVICE Filed July 20, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR: Lox/ms 26C Cazrwroia,

I Patented July 27, 1931 GNITED STATES 1 PATENT. OFFJCE -naosasr: rounmapnvicn Louis A. Camerota, Burlington, -N. J.', assignor to Florence Pipe Foundry & Machine Company, Florence, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 20,

10 Claims.

"A more specific object of the preferred form of the invention is to provide a self-contained pour- 5 ing unit incorporated within a movable carriage and including a tiltable ladle and various instrumentalities for operating the' ladle and its carriage, such'instrumentalities being mounted on and forming a part of the carriage.

novel means for mounting a tilting ladle of the character described upon'a' supporting carriage,

together with a specially designed lip for the ladle, for the purpose of effecting an even flow of metal from the ladle to the discharge-spout and thence to the mold to be charged, the apparatus being particularly designed to prevent surging or splashing.

Still other objects "of the invention include the provision of means for controlling the operation of the ladle and its .carriage from a'remote station, the provision of 'means permitting ready removal of. the ladle and 'the discharge spout, and meansfor adjusting the relative positions of the ladle and spout.

The advantages characterizing the pouring'device of my invention will become more ially apparent from the description hereinafter'set forth of one embodiment or example of the invention,

having reference to the accompanying drawings.

Oi the drawings:

Fig. I represents a plan view of 'a ladle carriage embodying my invention.

Fig. II represents a side elevation of the same, showing the ladle in its normal position.

'Fig. III represents a view similar to Fig. II, with parts of the, ladl. carriage and the ladle shown in cross section, taken as indicated by the lines 111-111 of Fig. I.

tion and partly in section of the ladleand ladle carriage showing the ladle elevated to its maximum angle of tilt.

Fig, V represents a cross section, taken asindicated by the lines V --V of Fig. II, showing the Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. IV represents a view partly in side eleva- 1935, Serial No. 32,322

manner in which the ladle carrying bracket is pivotally mounted on the carriage frame.

Fig. VI represents a cross section, taken as indicated by the line VI-VI of Fig. H, illustrating the manner in which the ladle tilting cylinder is pivotally mounted on the carriage frame.

Fig. VII represents a view partly in side elevation and partly in cross section, showing the operating cylinder for moving the ladle carriage.

Fig. VIII represents a view partly in side elevation and partly in cross section, showing the deladle.

Fig. IX represents a cross section, taken as indicated by the lines IX-IX of Fig. I. showing the manner in which the carriage operating cylinderis incorporated within the carriage.

Fig. X is an enlarged cross section of one end of the carriage operating cylinder, showing details thereof; and,

. Fig. X1 is a diagrammatic representation of the pressure lines and the valves employed for controlling operation of the tilting cylinder and carriage operating cylinder.

With reference particularly to Figs. I and II, there is shown in the drawings, a pouring assembly comprising generally a tiltable ladle l, a ladle carrying stirrup 2 pivoted on spaced frame members 3 of a movable carriage 4 and a connecting spout 5 adapted to convey moltenmetal .from the mouth of the ladle to the end of a rotary flask (not shown) of a centrifugal casting machine.

tails of the cylinder employed for tilting the The ladle carriage 4 has wheels 6 engaging the rails l of a track which leads to the casting station. As shown in Fig. IX, the wheels 6 of the ladle carriage '4 may be formed with V-shaped grooves and the rails i'con strueted of angle bars fitting said grooves, thougli'the particular form of the wheels and track is'not material to the present invention. In order to reciprocate the ladle carriage along the track rails I, and thus to move the connecting spent 5 towards oraway from the casting. station, an operating cylinder 8 isemployed, thisicylinder being incorporated within the ladle carriage 4 and having relative movement with respect to a plunger 9 which is maintained in fixed relation to the track rails. The stroke of the plunger 9 within the cylinder 8 represents the limit of travel of the ladle carriage 4.

The ladle carriage 4 consists of a framework conveniently built up of channel bars I! extending longitudinally and transversely and supporting a. platform I3. As shown in Fig. IX, the operating cylinder 8 formoving the ladle carriage 4 end. The plunger 2 terminates in a plunger head 1 I ILthe deta'ils whereof areshown clearly in Fig.

X. The-plunger head 11 is fitted with suitable packing l2 and is rigidly secured to the plunger 2 by pins l2. Within the plunger 2 there is an internal pipe 22 which leads through the plunger head "and admits the pressure medium to the ,between the iiiternal pipe 22 and the plunger 2 into which the pressure medium is admitted by means of a pipe connection 22. Adjacent to the plunger head I! ports 22 are provided leading from the annular space 2| to an outer annular space 24 defined between the plunger 2 and the cylinder 2/ In an obvious i'nanner. when thefpressure medium is admitted through the internal pipe 22 to the space 22 between theplunger head 2 l1 and the. cylinder head l2, the cylinder 2 is caused to move to the right as viewed in Fla.

VII. On the other hand, when the pressure medium is admitted through the pipe connection 22 to the annular space 2| within the plunger 2, the

medium escapes through the ports 22 to .the' annular space 24 and causes the cylinder 2 to 'move to the left. Accordingly, the direction of movement of the ladle carriage 4 is dependent upon internal pipe 22 or at the pipe connection 22. An additional pipe connection 21 is provided adjacent to the stufllng box i f the annular space 2 As hereinafter described,

' the pipe connection 21 "leads to the tilting cylwhich serves to limit the movement of the ladle carriage 4 towards the casting station. Abovethe platform l2 of the ladle carriage 4, and rigidly securedtheretmare the spaced. frame members 2, these members being of substantially triangular shape and aifording vertical walls at each side of the ladle carrlage'. The ladle carrying stirrup 2 comprises two pairs of arms 2| in the form of flat plates pivotally attached by means of trunnions 22 to the top corners of the frame members 2. The arms 2|- are cross connected by means of a transversely disposed plate 24.

The ladle l is removably supported on theladle. 50 carrying stirrup 2 in the following manner. The

ladle is. provided at'each side with a hook shaped gusset 22 which surrounds the top edge of the transverse plate 24 of the ladle'carrying stirrup 2. An oppositely disposedhook shaped projection v22 05 aflixed to the bottom of the-ladle carrying stirrup 2 at each side thereof engages pins 21 projecting laterally from the sides of the ladle. The

' ladle is thus held by its own weight upon the ladle carrying stirrup 2, but is readily removable 70 by raising it in a vertical direction which may be accomplished by applying a lifting tackle to a bail 42 attached to the top of the ladle. The ladle I has an upwardly and forwardly inclined wall 4| and a rear wall 42 which" is'substantiaily 7 arcuate in cross section. At themouth of the space between the plunger head I! and the cylinder head l2. An annular space 2| is provided whether the pressure medium is supplied at the.

and. communicating with ladle the inclined wall 4| terminates in a pouring lip 42 of rounded formation, the forward edge of the pouring lip being substantially coincident with the axis of the aligned trunnions 22 and their bearings 44. Immediately in the rear of the curved portion of the lip 42 there is provided a shoulder 42 which serves as a dam or weir restricting the flow of metal. The ladle .l is lined with suitable refractory material as indicated at 42 and is encased within a box-like framework 41.. An inclined plate 22 disposed beneath the lip 42 serves as a guard for deflecting any spilled metal away from the tilting cylinder 22.

At the mouth of the ladle I there is preferably provided a skimming device comprehensively designated at 42, which includes. a blade 42 in the form of a flat plate normally maintained in 'a position within the mouth of the ladle with its bottom edge extending downwardly to a predetermined distance above the surface over which the metal is poured and at a predetermined distance in the rear of the shoulder 42; By means of a handle 22" the skimming device including the blade 42 may be swung to a position outside the ladle. as indicated in the drawings by broken lines. The skimming device pivots about a shaft 2| and includes arms 22, 22, which are adapted to engage a pin 24. when the arm 22 engages the pin 24. the blade 42 is maintained in its normal position 'withinthe mouth'of the ladle. when the handle 20 is manipulated to swing the skimming device to reverse position, the arm 22 em gages the pin 24 and the skimming ..device is maintained outside theladle in a position where it is accessible for cleaning. The. detailed construction of the skimming devicev 42 is more fully described in my pending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 32,321 filed July 20, 1935.

The manner in which the ladle carrying stirrup 2 is pivoted upon-the spaced frame members 2 of theladle carriage is shown most clearly in Fig. V, and it will be noted that the forward edge of the pouring lip 42 or the ladle is substantially coincidentwith the axis about which the ladle pivots and is disposed immediately above the trough of the connecting spout 2. .A special advantage of this construction is that the molten metal carried within the ladle I is adapted to] flowism'oothly and without surging or splashing frqin the ladle'l to the connecting spout 2. Ac-

cordingly in specifying herein that the forward edge of the lip of the ladle is jsubstantially codncident with the axis about which the ladle pivots it is meant that incident to the tilting .of the ladle a relation is maintained between the forward edge of the lip 42 and the connecting spout 2 which does not materially alter the drop of the metal as it flows from the ladle to the spout. Desirably the connecting spout=2 is rendered adjustable and removable. For this purpose the connecting spout 2 has at its upper end a pair of laterally extending pins 22 which are engaged by book shaped adjustable brackets 22- mounted on the frame members 2. Similarly at its lower end the connecting spout 2 has a pair of depending lugs 21 adapted to rest upon a bar 22 which in turn is carried by a pair ofadjustable brackets 22. 'll'he brackets 22. 22 are slottedand securedto the frame members 2 by bolts 22, 24,

and in this'manner the brackets are rendered ad justabie so that the connecting spout 2 may be positioned in the desired relation to the lip 42 of the ladle I and to theend of-the rotary flask to be charged; hloreover, it is relatively simple to adapt the pouring assembly to different size flasks bysubstituting one type of connecting spout for another. V

The tilting cylinder 28 employed for raising and lowering the ladle I -is shown in detail in Figs. VI and VIII. It will be particularly observed that the tilting cylinder 28 is provided with la erally extending trunnions 62 which engage aligned bearings 68 in the spaced frame members 3. Within the cylinder 28 there is a plunger 84 which has at one end a head 65 and which at the opposite end is pivoted by means of a pin 66 to the ladle-carrying stirrup 2. It will be noted that the pivotal attachment of the plunger 84 to the stirrup 2 establishes a connection between the plunger 64 and ladle I which is direct in the sense that it avoids the use of intermediate links or moving parts, or parts subjected to wear andhence likely to develop play between them. A stufling box 61 surrounds the plunger 64 where it enters the cylinder 28. As shown'most clearly in Fig. VI, the fluid medium for operating the tilting cylinder 28 enters the cylinder through a pipe connection 88 disposed centrally of one of the trunnions 82. It passes through a port 69 into the interior of the cylinder 28. The plunger head 65 is constructed of less diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder 28 permitting the fluid medium to pass around the head 65, and by action upon the relatively large surface of the plunger head 65. to force the plunger to the right shown by the dotted lines in Fig. VIII. Accordingly, whenever pressure is admitted through the pipe connection 68, the plunger 64 is extended to raise the ladle I, and when such pressure is relieved through the same connection the weight of the ladle I returns the plunger 64 to its normal position. Adjacent to the trunnionsv 62 the cylinder 28 is desirably provided with reinforcing webs I8, I I disposed longitudinally and transversely, respectively. 7 M1 The normal position of the ladle I is shown in Figs. I and II. When the cylinder 28 is operated to lift the ladle I to its maximum angle of tilt, the parts assume the position represented in Fig. IV. The fluid medium exhausted. from the car riage operating cylinder 8 throughthe pipe .connection 21 passes to a pipe line 12 and leads to a stop valve I4. Beyond the stop valve I4 there is provided a by-pass I5 which has therein'a regulating valve I6, adjustable by means of an arm II, which governs the fiow' to the tilting-cylinder 28 and hence the rate of movement of the tilting cylinder. Desirably acheck'valve I8 is disposed in parallel relation with the regulating valve I6. A pipe connection I9 leads from. the region of the by-pass I5 to an automatically controlled valve 88 'and an additional line 8| leadsirom the automatic control valve 88 to the pipe connection 68 at one of the trunnions '62 of the tilt- ,ing cylinder 28. Thus it will be observed that the carriage operating cylinder 8 and the tilting cylinder 28 are disposed in series relation. The

pipe lines 85 to the pipe line 81.

indicated by the arrow to the exhaust line 81. 1

When the position of, the handle 83 of. the master control valve 82 is reversed, the fluid medium passes directly from the pipe line 84 tothe pipe line 86' and is exhausted directly through the To accomplish the automatic tilting of the ladle I when and only when the ladle carriage 4 is in proper position at the casting station, the automatic control valve 88 is provided. As shown illustrationit may be assumed to be a four-way most-clearly in Fig. IV, the automatic control 20 at a fixed, pivot 89 and is pivotally attached to the stem 98 of the valve 88. The operating lever 88 projects beneath the ladle carriage 4 and is ,valve 88 has an operating lever 88 fulcruined adapted to strike a projecting block 9I disposed 25 adjacent to the rails I. In an obvious manner, when, the'lever 88 strikes the block 9I, the stem 98 is moved outwardly to open the valve 88. The lever 88 is thus moved against the pressure of a spring bumper 92 secured to the-ladle I. projecting block 9| is disposed ata predetermined point-along the track rails I in such manner when the ladle carriage 4 is moved to the casting station and the connecting spout 5 has entered The 30 the rotary flask of the casting machine, the valve 5 will open. Upon the raising of the ladle I,

the opening of the valve 88 causes. pressure to be admitted to the tilting cylinder 28 and the valve 88 is not again closed until the return of the ladle I to its normal position brings the spring operating cylinder 8, the position in which the.

ladle carriageis farthest away from the casting station. Let it also be assumed that the ladle I is in its normal lowered position and that the operator desiring to charge the rotary flask of a casting machine moves the handle 83 of the ma-ster control valve 82 to the positionrepresented in Fig. XI. The pressure medium then passes 5 through the line 84 and through the valve 82, as indicated by the arrows, to the line 85, and. thence through the pipe connection 22 into the annular space 2| between the internal pipe 28 and the plunger 9. Under these circumstances 6 there is a. relative movement of the plunger head II to the right, or a movement of .the carriage operating'cylinder 8 to'the left. This is accompanied by a passage of a portion of the fluid medium through the ports 28 into' the outer annular space 24 of the cylinder 8, and through the connection 21 to the pipe line I2, and thence through the regulating valve Ii. The automatic valve 88 being closed, however, the tilting cylinder 28 does not operate at this point. p

The movement of the ladle carriage 8 toward the casting station continues to the limit 01' the travel of the plunger 9 within the cylinder 8. Immediately before the plunger 9 reaches its limit of travel, the operating lever 88 of the valve 88 strik as the projecting block 8| alongside the track. rails-1 and causes the valve" to open. Thus when the ladle carriage 4 reaches the proper f position, the fluid medium passesthrough the valve 88 to the pipe connection 68 on thetilting cylinder 28 and through one of the trunnions 62' of that cylinder into the interior space thereof.

. ,The fluid medium passes around the plung r head- 65 and forces the plunger 64 to the right, causing the ladle l to be elevated. When the .ladl'a in Fig. IV, and the contents thereof are charged through the connecting spout 5 into the end of the rotary flask on the casting machine, the

- operator, desiring to return'the ladle I and ladle l5 carriage 4 to their original position, reverses the master control valve 82 by movement of the operating lever 83. Under these circumstances, the pressure is admitted through the line 84 directly tothe line 86 and from thence to the intemalpipe; of the plunger 8. The fluid medium passes to the right hand end of the cylinder 8 and operates against the plunger head.

ll, forcing the cylinder 8 to the right. The ladle carriage 4 continues to move to the right, to the limit of its travel. At-the same, time, the weight of the ladle l causes'the plunger 64 of the tilting cylinder 28 to return to its normal position, forcing'fluid medium out of'the cylinder 28 through the connection 68 ,and the pipe line 8|, and thr'ouglr-the automatic valve-.80 which is still ine open' position) and through the check valve 18 and line.- I2 into the annuiar space-24'of the 1 carriage operating cylinder 8. The fluid medium is exhausted through the ports 28 into the annular space 2|, and thence'through the pipe conmotion 22 into the pipe line 85, and thence di-.

rectly through the master control valve 82 to the exhaust line 81. As the tilting ladle l returns to its lowered position, the spring bumper 92 o thereon strikes tine stem 98 of the valve 80 and closes the valve. The ladle carriage ,4 is thus in readiness for further operation.

It will be observed that the ladle carriage of I this' invention constitutes a self-contained unit, 45 all of the operations of which are remotely controlled, thus avoidingthe necessity for-there be- "ing any attendant at the ladle carriage, all of the operationsbeing controlled by an attendant at the casting station. Moreover, the automatic 50 raising and lowering of the ladle l as an incident to the movement of the carriage 4, is a safety feature which prevents accidental discharge of the contents of the ladle. The ladle I can only beoperated when the carriage 4.is in the posi- 5 tion at the casting station, or when the connecting spout 5--is disposed within the end of the- 7 no particular mounting by which the .ladle is carried on the frameworlrof the ladle carriage, and the mechanism by which the ladle is caused to be raised and lowered. The unit being self-contained and the ladle-being. operated by mecha- 65 nism mounted on the carriage, there is no necessity for the use of cables or other external devices. Furthermore, the ladle mounting is such that the desired relationship is established between the mouth of the ladle and the spout, and an even, smooth, flow of metal, without appreciable drop orsurging or splashing, is provided from the ladle to the connecting spout. Whenever desired, the ladle I may be readily removed 76 for cleaning or repair, and the connecting spout reaches its maximum limit of tilt, as represented 'having a direct pivotal connection with said .erally extending trunnions whereby it is pivoted I may also be removed or adjusted at convenience..

While I .have described my invention in considerable detail and with reference to one particular embodiment thereof, it will be apparent 5 that various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus herein described and illustrated, and that certain features of the invention may at times be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features, all with- 10 out; departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A pouring device of the character described comprising carriage having spaced frame members thereon, aladle carrying stirrup pivoted on said frame members, a ladle removably attached to said stirrup with the mouth thereof extending between said frame members, and means for tilting said "ladle including a cylinder pivotally mountedon said carriage and a plunger in said cylinder pivotally attached to said ladle-carry-' ing stirrup.

2. A pouring device of the character described comprising a carriage having spaced frame meme 25 I bers thereon, a ladle mounted for tilting move-- ment about said frame members, the mouth of said ladle extending between said frame members and terminating in a lip having its forward, edge substantially coincident with the axis about which the ladle is tilted, and means for tilting said ladle including a cylinder pivotally mounted on said carriage and a plunger in said cylinder ladle;

3. A pouring device of the character described comprising a carriage, a ladle mounted for tilting movement on the carriage frame, means for tilting said ladle including a cylinder having laterally extending trunnions whereby it is pivoted to 40 said carriage, a plunger in said cylinder having a direct pivotal connection with said ladleI and 7 a line for a pressure medium leading to said tiltinndcylinder. through one of the trunnions aforesa 4. A pouring device of the character described comprising a carriage a ladle mounted for tilting movement on the carriage frame, means for tilting said ladle including a cylinder having latto said carriage, a plunger in said cylinder having a. direct pivotal connection with said ladle, a supply line for a pressure medium leading to said tilting cylinder through one of the trunnions aforesaid, and an exhaust line for said medium leading away from said cylinder through the other trunnion. q

5. A pouring device of the character desc bed-f comprising a movable carriage, an operatin cyl; inder incorporated in the frame of said carriage and serving .to move the same in the direc ion of its length, a ladle mounted for tilting m ement on an axis disposed transversely of the arriage, and means for tilting said ladle comprising a second cylinder pivotally attached to the car- 65 riage, and aplunger in said second cylinder havf ing a direct pivotal connection with said ladle.

6. A pouring device of the character described comprising a movable carriage, an operating cylinder incorporated in the frame of said carriage not be tilted until the first cylinder has completed its operation.

'7. .A pouring device of the character described comprising a ladle carriage guided tor reciprocatory movement, a ladle mounted on said carriage and adapted to tilt about an axis disposed transversely to the path of movement of said carriage, a cylinder on said carriage for tilting said ladle, a remotely controlled cylinder on said carriage for reciprocating said carriage, a valve for controlling said ladle tilting cylinder and means disposed in the path of movement of said carriage for operating said valve when the carriage reaches a predetermined point in its movement.

8. A pouring device of the character described comprising a track, a ladle carriage movable on said track, a ladle mounted on said carriage and adapted to tilt about an axis disposed substantially transversely to said track, means on said carriage for tilting said ladle, a valve for controlling said ladle tilting means, and means including an element disposed alongside said track for operating said valve when the carriage reaches a predetermined point on said track.

9. In combination, a casting station, a track leading to said casting station, a ladle carriage movable on said track, a ladle mounted on said carriage, a pressure cylindfer on said carriage for tilting said ladle, a valve or controlling the operation of said pressure cylinder, a projecting member alongside said track, and a lever on said carriage adapted to strike said projecting member and to operate said valve when said carriage is moved to said casting station thereby to raise the ladle to pouring position.

10. In combination, a casting station, a track leading to said casting station, aladle carriage movable on said track, a ladle mounted on said carriage, a pressure cylinder on said carriage for tilting said ladle, a valve on said ladle carriage for admitting the pressure medium to said pressure cylinder to raise said ladle, a remote master control valve for exhausting 'said pressure cylinder to lower the ladle, means for automatically opening said valve on the ladle carriage when the carriage is moved to the casting station, and

means for automatically closing said valve on the ladle carriage when the ladle is lowered as the result of the operation of the master control valve aforesaid.

LOUIS A. CAMEROTA. 

